Even as the RTS genre climbs out of the pit it was in with the help of indie and AA developers (and rare AAA projects like a new Warcraft 3 expansion or more Age of Empires), it’s hard to be surprised nowadays by all-new releases in the space, but Ashes of the Singularity 2 might change that.
With a release date locked for November 10, we were invited to watch a live Ashes of the Singularity 2 skirmish in all its large-scale, chaotic glory, all while getting an in-depth rundown from Adrian Wright (Vice President of Entertainment at Stardock) and Brett Norton (Head of Production) ahead of the planned launch, which is targeting Steam with a full 1.0 release.
The sequel will arrive over 10 years after the original, and not much has changed since then in the RTS space. Again, it’s been relatively quiet out there, with evolution taking a back seat to generally nostalgic projects for the most part. That might be the main reason why Ashes of the Singularity 2 is feeling like a balm. Its ideas are big; the execution looks suitably grand; and the depth (looking at you, micromanaging) isn’t too daunting. Plus, some Planetary Annihilation and Supreme Commander 2 vibes can be felt all over this ambitious giant.
During the four-player FFA match we got to see, the game’s massive scale defined a number of different battlefronts across the map, but never became too confusing. Norton, however, warned that a 4v4 team battle might look a lot busier. Of course, this raised the question of whether a CPU benchmark will also be included at launch (Ashes 1 was famously used for such tests by many players), but the developer confirmed we shouldn’t expected “a dedicated benchmark function” at launch. Still, a very quick look at the system requirements confirms that, at least under normal circumstances, Ashes of the Singularity 2 shouldn’t be heavy on mid-to-high-end PCs.
With three distinct factions – humanity, AI Substrate, and Post-Human Coalition – and an apparent focus on feeding the RTS sickos, it was also reasonable to ask about how the developers are planning to entice a more casual crowd. Micro-managing is a large issue for many players that would otherwise devour RTS games; and Oxide seems well aware of that.
First, there’s a tactical pause (at least during offline play) that gives players time to plan their next moves and prevents them from being overwhelmed with information. There’s been discussions about APM (actions per minute), and the team decided against making a strategy game only people with high APMs could truly enjoy. Norton said he’s a high APM kind of player, yet Wright (who was playing the game live for us) isn’t… and was doing totally fine.
As a result, Ashes of the Singularity 2 looks to behave more like a slow-paced game of attrition and big decisions that develop over time, even if you have hundreds of units and massive behemoths duking it out at all times. Wright was able to look away from one of the many ongoing combat encounters to take care of his bases and reroute new groups. By the time he returned to the battlefronts, the chaos was still unfolding. In multiplayer, I’m not expecting things to be as chill, yet the AI was putting up a fight. The big difference is that split-second decisions and ability activations weren’t the definitive key to victory.
“We wanted to go for the audience that wants a combat-focused game,” Norton told us. There’s still a base-building and economic side to the game, but it just doesn’t seem to get lost in the weeds and intricacies of denser contemporaries. It’s very much about the larger picture, about expanding and holding one’s ground over time.
Its more relaxed pace and macromanaging-oriented design means each match is potentially longer, but that’s exactly how Oxide and Stardock might be able to entice a larger audience. “Success is based on your skill as a strategy player not micromanagement or reflexes. This is a game that celebrates your strategic skills and rewards you for understanding that logistics, planning and terrain matter,” the game’s official description says.
At launch, Ashes of the Singularity 2 is promising offline skirmishes, online PvP and co-op, and even a story campaign set in a “near future scenario of survival and restoration” from the perspective of humanity. It’s the whole package, which sounds like music to our ears. And soon, we’ll go hands-on with it. For now, keep an eye on the social accounts and prepare for the November 10 launch.
